Salt tablet delivering machine



July 12, 1955 R. P. WARREN 2,712,892

SALT TABLET DELIVERING MACHINE Filed Sept. 7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 12, 1955 R. P. WARREN 2,712,392

SALT TABLET DELIVERING MACHINE Filed Sept. 7, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7f 6: I 66 go 25 39 FM i k IN VEN TOR.

13 0M] Mm United States Patent Otiice 2,712,892 Patented July 12, 1955 SALT TABLET DELIVERING MACHINE Robert P. Warren, Kenilworth, 151., assignor to Morton Salt Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 7, 1954, Serial No. 454,421

10 Claims. (Cl. 2262) This invention relates to dispensing machines and has to do with machines for dispensing tablets, such as salt tablets, in canning operations and for other purposes.

My invention is directed to a machine for discharging tablets, such as salt tablets, into cans or other containers. The machine of my invention delivers the tablets singly to cans or containers moved past the delivery station of the machine by conveyor means, preferably a continuously operating endless conveyor. The tablets are delivered from magazines, maintained filled with tablets, by valve means actuated responsive to atrival of the containers at the delivery station. The valve means comprises a valve member having limited rectilineal reciprocatory movement and effective for delivering tablets from two magazines alternately to the delivery station, with a view to simplicity of construction and operation. The magazines are maintained filled with tablets by means of an oscillatory hopp'er having discharge spouts telescoping the upper ends of the mag azines in a manner to assure delivery of the tablets thereto. The hopper is provided with means for separating loose salt from the tablets, to assure delivery to the containers of tablets only, and is also preferably pro vided with vibratory means assuring continuous discharge of the tablets from the hopper into the magazines. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly broken away and in section, of a tablet dispensing machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure l partly broken away;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 77 of Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 88 of Figure 3.

The machine of my invention will be described, by way of example, as used in canning operations for delivering salt tablets to cans which receive comestibles, for which it is particularly suitable in certain of its aspects, though it may be used for delivering tablets and analogous articles of various substances for other purposes, within the broader concept of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a rectangular base 10 from which extends upward a vertical a front panel 11 of elongated rectangular or oblong shape. Two vertically disposed tablet receiving magazines 12, preferably of cylindrical form and provided with observation windows, are mounted on the front of panel 11, by brackets 13, in spaced relation. The magazines 1 vibrator 28, of known receive salt tablets from a hopper 14 mounted by hinge means 15 for swinging movement about a horizontal pivot axis 16 extending transversely of panel 11 at the top thereof. Two discharge spouts 17 are secured to front wall 18 of hopper 14, over outlet openings 19 in wall 18. The upper end portions 12a of magazines 12 are curved rearwardly about the pivot axis 16 and the discharge spouts 17 are also curved concentrically with the pivot axis 16 and extend over the curved upper end portions 12a of magazines 12 in telescoping and exterior relation thereto. Disposing the spouts 17 exteriorly of the curved portions 12a of magazine 12 guards against jamming or crushing of the tablets when the magazines 12 are filled with tablets. The spouts 17 are of approp'riate length to extend about the curved upper end portions 12a of magazines 12 during swinging movement of hopper 14 and when the latter is moved to its extreme position in either direction.

Two guide strips 20 are secured to the inner face of each side wall 21 or" hopper 14, at about the midlength thereof. A gate 22 is slidably mounted in the pairs of strips 20 for vertical adjustment. A cross bar 23 extends between and is secured to the rearward ones of the pairs of guide strips 20. Gate 22 is secured in adjustment by means of a wing nut 24a screwing onto a headed bolt 24 passing through bar 23 and a vertical slot 25 in gate 22. The gate 22 may thus readily be adjusted to vary the height of the opening between it and the forward portion 26 of the hopper bottom. Portion 26 of the hopper bottom extends from front wall 18 to the rearward guide strips 26, and the remaining portion of the hopper bottom is in the form of a screen 27. The upper surface of portion 26 of the hopper bottom is corrugated, as shown, and an electromagnetic type, is mounted on the under face of portion 26 for imparting vibration thereto to assure discharge of the tablets through openings 19. Side walls 21 of hopper 14 are provided at their rearward portions with downward extensions 38. A drawer or tray 31 is slidably mounted between extensions 31) in underlying relation to screen 27 for receiving particles of broken tablets and loose salt passing through the screen, to assure that no appreciable or objectionable amount of loose salt, if any, will be discharged into the magazines 12.

Two links 32, at the sides of hopper 14, are secured at their upper ends on the ends of a cross rod 33 rockably mounted in bearing blocks 34 secured to the bottom of hopper 14. The links 32 are pivoted at their lower ends, at 35, to the forward ends of levers 36. The levers 36 are secured intermediate their ends on the ends of a cross rod 37 rockably mounted in bearing blocks 38 secured on standards 39 extending upward from an upper platform 40, which extends between and is supported by front panel 11 and an upper rear panel 41. The panel 41 extends upward from a lower platform 42 spaced above base 10 and extending between and supported by front panel 11 and a lower rear panel 43 extending upward from base 10. The rearward ends of the levers 36 are connected by a cross rod 44 suitably secured thereto.

A drive shaft 45 is rotatably mounted in standards 46 extending upward from the upper platform 40. Shaft 45 is disposed above cross rod 44 and in approximately the same vertical plane therewith. Eccentric cams 47 are secured on the ends of shaft 45 and bear on the cross rod 44 adjacent and inwardly ofthe rearward ends of levers 36. A worm gear 48 is fixed on shaft 45, at the midlength thereof, and meshes at its top with a worm 49 fixed on shaft 50 of an electric motor 51 mounted on a block 52 extending upward from the upper platform 40 in the rear of shaft 45. The radius of worm gear 48 is such that it will at all times be clear of the cross rod 44 Preferably the eccentric cams 47 "are so designed that 'hopper'14 will be held inits raised position, shown in full lines in "Figure 1, during approximately three quarters of each rotation of shaft 45, and will'be in its-downwardly and rearwardly inclined position, indicated in broken lines, when the low points of the eccentric cams bear on the cross rod 44. In the downwardly and forwardly inclined raise'dposition ofhopper'14 the tablets are deliveredtherefrom to the magazines 12 assuring that they 'are'at all timesadeguately charged with'tablets, as will be :understood from the above. Moving the'hopper 1.4 to its downwardly and rearwardlyinclined lowered position is of particular advantage in that if any of the tablets bridge or wedge in the outlet openings 19 they will be dislodged therefrom and returned to the hopper. Also, by having'the spouts 17 exterior of the curved upper end portions 12a of the magazines 12, risk of damaging or jamming the tablets, when a magazine is completely filled with tablets, is guarded against, as stated above. I thus assure free flow of the tablets to the magazines and guard against damage to the tablets or jamming thereof in the magazines, which is conducive to accuracy in delivery of the tablets to the containers, as will appear more fully presently.

The lower ends of themagazines 12 are open and overlie a valve housing 54 in close proximity to the top wall 55 thereof. The valve housing 54 is mounted on the front face of panel 11 and is provided in its top wall 55 with two tablet admission openings 56 aligned with the open lower ends of the magazines 12. The bottom wall z} a receiving opening 61 in register with the right hand (Fig ure'2) or upper (Figure 4) admission opening56 and the other opening 61 in register with the delivery opening and spout 57-58. Similarly, if the solenoid 71a be now energized the lever 67 is swung to its other position with valve member 69 then in its other extreme position, with one opening 61 thereof in register with the left hand (Figure 2) or lower (Figure 4) admission opening 56 andthe other opening 61 in register with the delivery opening and spout 57 58. As will be understood from whathas been said, when the valve member 60 is moved to either of its extreme positions, it receives, in one of the openings 61, a tablet from one of magazines 12 and delivers, from the other opening 61, a tablet to the delivery opening and spout 5758. V

The circuits of the solenoids 71a and 71b are controlled by normally open micro-switches 78a and 73b respectively. The switches 78a. and 78b are mountedby brackets 79 on a block 80 secured to base It and are disposed in spaced overlying relation to, block 80. Eachof the brackets 79 is secured to-block 80 by screw and slot means, as shown in Figure 5, for adjustment of themicroswitches 78a and 78b, each of which has a downwardly extending switch arm 81 provided at its lower free end' with a roller 82.

The rollers 82 of the switch arms 81 normally rest upon, and are differently spaced from the center'of, a star wheel 85 mounted on block 86 for rotation about-a .vertical axis. The star wheel 85 projects through a horizontal slot 87 in front panel 11, with its arms overlying a forward extension 88 of base 10. An inner rail 89.is secured to the outer face of panel 11 transversely thereof and above slot 87. An outer rail 90 is mounted adjacent the front of extension 88, on posts 91, in the plane ofrail of housing 54 is provided with a'tablet delivery opening 57 disposed centrally between the admission openings 56 and with a delivery spout 58 extending downward from opening 57. A valve member fit'iis slidably mounted in V valve housing 54 for rectilinealreciprocatory movement,

the ends of housing 54 being open for that purpose. Valve member 60 is provided with two tablet receiving openings 61 spaced apart one half the distance between the tablet admission openings 56. The openings 61 are so disposed that when one of the receiving openings 61 registers with one of the admission openings 56, in one extreme position of valve member60, the other receiving opening '61 registers with the delivery opening 57, and vice versa. 7

Valve member 60 has securedthereto, midway'between thetablet receiving openings 61, a pin 64 extending upward through a lengthwise slot 65 .in top wall 55 ofthe valve housing .54. Pin 64 extends into an open ended slot 66 in the forward end of a valve operatinglever 67 extending through 'a slot 68 in front panel 11. Lever 67 ispivoted at its rearward end, at 69, on a block 70 secured on the upper face of the lower platform 42 adjacent the rear thereof. Block 70 is disposed in an opening 41a in the lower portion'of panel 41. Two solenoids 71a and 71b are'mounted on'platform 42 at opposite sides of lever 67 at' about the midlength thereof. a Each of the solenoids 71a and 71b has a slidable core 72 having shoulders 73 limiting its inward movement responsive to energization Figures 2 and 4,.its movement to that position 'beinglimitednby core 72 of solenoid 71b so that valvemember 60 s then disposed in oneextreme position :with. one-tablet 89 defining therewith a passage for cans travelling across extension 88. The upper run 92 of an endless conveyor 7 i 93 of suitable known type, driven in a known manner,

passes over extension 88. Conveyor 93 maybe provided with suitably formed and disposed flights 94 for engaging cans C placed thereon and propelling them across extension 88 in the travel of the upper run 92 of conveyor 93 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figures 2, 4

and 5. a a

The areas of star wheel 35 between the arms thereof are of arcuate formation and of substantially the same radius as the cans C. A'first series of switch operating buttons 97 are mounted on the upper face of star wheel 85.con-- centrically therewith and are spaced from the center thereof correspondingly to the roller 82 of switch arm 81 of micro-switch 78a. The buttons 97 alternate with buttons 98 of a second series concentric with star wheel and spaced from the center thereof correspondingly to the roller 82 of switch arm $1 of the microswitch 78b. The buttons'97 and 98 are respectively disposed on a radius of star wheel 85 passing centrally through one of the arcuate indentations thereof. With a can C on theupper run 92 ofconveyor 93 disposed between two adjacent arms of star wheel 85 and the latter in its position shown in Figure 5, the arm 81 of micro-switch 78b is raised by one of the buttons 98 with the armSZi of micro-switch 78a remaining in its normal lowered position. Closing of microswitch 78b energizes solenoid 71b, eifectivefor swinging lever 67 toward the right (Figure 2) or upward (Figure 4) and moving the valve member 60 to its extreme position in that direction. That occurs'when' the can C is centered relative to the delivery spout 58. In the movement of valve member 60 to its extreme position stated, a tablet is delivered to the can beneath spout 58, from one of the tablet receiving openings 61 of valve member 60 and a tablet is received in the other opening 61 from the .right hand (Figure 2) magazine 12 simultaneously with delivery of a tablet to the can. In the continued travel of conveyor 93, the next succeeding can turns the star wheel 85 another step effective for closing micro-switch78a, by means done of the buttons 97.

U That energizes solenoid 71a and lever 67 is swung to its other position thus moving valve member 60 to its other extreme position for delivering a tablet to that can while receiving a tablet from the left hand (Figure 2) magazine 12. In that manner the star wheel 85 is turned step by step by the cans C travelling with the upper run 92 of conveyor 93 and as each can is centered beneath delivery spout 58 a tablet is delivered therethrough into the can. After the cans have been charged with the tablets, as above, they may be conveyed to a filling and sealing machine by which they are filled with a comestible, or other substance, and then sealed, in a known manner.

It will be understood, as above indicated, that changes in detail may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope of my invention, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of my invention has been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In a tablet delivering machine having a tablet delivery opening, conveyor means for advancing cans beneath said opening, tablet containing magazines above said opening, valve means between said magazines and said opening comprising a reciprocatory valve member having two positions and provided with tablet receiving openings disposed to be alternately aligned with said magazines respectively and with said delivery opening in the reciprocation of said valve member, said magazines being open at their lower ends for discharge of tablets therefrom into said receiving openings of said valve member, and can actuated means efiective for moving said valve member from one of its said positions to its other position when a can moves to position underlying said delivery opening.

2. In a tablet delivering machine having a tablet delivery opening, conveyor means for advancing can beneath said opening, two tablet containing magazines disposed with their lower ends above said opening at opposite sides thereof and equidistant therefrom, valve means between the lower ends of said magazines and said opening comprising a reciprocatory valve member having two tablet receiving openings spaced apart one half the distance between the lower ends of said magazines, said valve member having limited movement in opposite directions to positions with said receiving openings respectively aligned alternately with said delivery opening and the lower end of one of said magazines, the latter being open at their lower ends for discharge of tablets therefrom into said receiving openings of said valve member, and can actuated means effective for moving said valve member from one of its said positions to its other position when a can moves to position underlying said delivery opening.

3. In a tablet delivering machine, a valve housing having a tablet delivery opening through its bottom wall, conveyor means for advancing can beneath said housing, two tablet containing magazines overlying said housing with their lower ends open and at opposite sides of and equidistant from said delivery opening, the top wall of said housing having two tablet admission openings aligned with the lower ends of said magazines, a reciprocatory valve member in said housing having two openings spaced apart one half the distance between said admission openings, said valve member having limited movement in opposite directions to positions with said receiving openings respectively aligned alternately with said delivery opening and one of said admission openings, and can actuated means effective for moving said valve member from one of its said positions to its other position when a can moves to position underlying said delivery opening.

4. In a tablet delivering machine having a tablet delivery opening, conveyor means for advancing cans beneath said opening, two tablet containing magazines above said opening at opposite sides thereof, valve means between said magazines and said opening effective for receiving tablets from said magazines alternately and delivering them to said opening, said valve means com prising a reciprocatory valve member movable in alternately opposite directions to two effective positions, a star wheel overlying said conveyor means and turned step by step by the cans in the advancement of the latter, and means controlled by said star wheel efiective for moving said valve member from one effective position to its other effective position when a can moves to position underlying said delivery opening.

5. In a tablet delivering machine having a tablet delivery opening, conveyor means for advancing cans beneath said opening, two tablet containing magazines above said opening at opposite sides thereof, valve means between said magazines and said opening efiective for receiving tablets from said magazines alternately and delivering them to said opening, said valve means comprising a reciprocatory valve member movable in alternately opposite directions to two effective positions, a star wheel overlying said conveyor means and turned step by step by the cans in the advancement of the latter, electromotive means effective for moving said valve member in alternate opposite directions from one effective position to its other elfective position responsive to successive energizations of said electromotive means, and switch means actuated by said star wheel effective for energizing said electromotive means when said star wheel is turned one step in the advancement of a can to a position underlying said delivery opening.

6. In a tablet delivering machine having a tablet delivery opening, conveyor means for advancing cans beneath said opening, two tablet containing magazines above said opening at opposite sides thereof, valve means between said magazines and said opening effective for receiving tablets from said magazines alternately and delivering them to said opening, said valve means comprising a reciprocatory valve member movable in alternately opposite directions to two efiective positions, a star wheel overlying said conveyor means and turned step by step by the cans in the advancement of the latter, an operating lever connected to said valve member, two solenoids at opposite sides of said lever having movable cores connected thereto for swinging said lever in opposite directions, normally open switches controlling the circuits of the respective solenoids, and means actuated by said star wheel effective for closing said switches alternately in the step by step turning of said star wheel in the advancement of successive cans to position underlying said delivery opening.

7. In a tablet delivering machine having a tablet delivery opening, conveyor means for advancing cans beneath said opening, two tablet containing magazines above said opening at opposite sides thereof, valve means between said magazines and said opening effective for receiving tablets from said magazines alternately and delivering them to said opening, said valve means comprising a reciprocatory valve member movable in alternately opposite directions to two effective positions, a star wheel overlying said conveyor means and turned step by step by the cans in the advancement of the latter, an operating lever connected to said valve member, two solenoids at opposite sides of said lever having movable cores connected thereto for swinging said lever in opposite directions, the core of each solenoid having limited inward movement etfective for disposing said valve member in one of its said effective positions, normally open switches controlling the circuits of the respective solenoids, and means actuated by said star wheel efiective for closing said switches alternately in the step by step turning of said star wheel in the advancement of successive cans to position underlying said delivery opening.

8. In a tablet delivering machine having a tablet delivery opening, conveyor means for advancing cans beneath said opening, two tablet containing magazines above said opening at opposite sides thereof, valve means between said magazines and said opening efiective for "5 receiving tablets from said magazines alternately and delivering them to said opening, said valve means comprising a reciprocatory valve member movable in alternately opposite directions to two effective positions, a

star wheel overlying said conveyor means and turned step by step by the cans in the advancement of the latter, an operating lever connected to said valve member, two solenoids at opposite sides of said lever having movable cores connected thereto for swinging said lever in opposite directions, normally open switches controlling the circuits of the respective solenoids and having switch operating arms overlying'said star wheel in close proximity thereto and spaced different distances from the center thereof, and two series of switch aim operating buttons on the upper face of said star wheel with the buttons of one series disposed to move the switch arm of one only of said switches to switch closing position and the buttons of the other series disposed to move the switch arm of the other only of said switches to switch closing position, the buttons or" said one series alternating with the buttons of said other series and said buttons being spaced substantially concentrically of said star Wheel and correspondingly to the steps through which the latter is turned effective for closing said switches alternately responsive to advancement of successive cans to positions G underlying said delivery opening.

, 9. In a tablet delivering machine, a hopper mounted for oscillatory movement about a pivot axis, substantially vertical tubular tablet containing magazines curved at their upper ends substantially concentrically with said pivot' axis, delivery spouts carried by said hopper curved for oscillatory movement about a pivot axis, substantially vertical tubular tablet containing magazines curved at their upper ends substantially concentrically with said pivot axis, delivery spouts carried by said hopper curved substantially concentrically with said axis and extending over said curved upper ends of said magazines in telescoping relation thereto for delivering tablets fromsaid hopper to said magazines, said spouts being slidable about said curved upper ends of said magazines, means for oscillating said hopper, means for advancing'cans eneath said magazines, and means for delivering tablets from said magazines to cans positioned therebene'ath.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,115,758 Whitton Nov. 3, 1914 1,884,365 Suppiger et a1 Oct. 25, 1932 2,060,645 Suppiger et al. Nov. 10, 1936 2,308,188 Madden Jan. 12, 1943 2,345,804 Gemberling et al. Apr. 4, 1944 

